CollegeAcademic Senate

of the

Sequoias

General Session Agenda

WednesdayDecember 12th Rm 14:10-5:30 p.m.

1.1Call to order by Steve Natoli @ 4:13 p.m.

1.2Approval of minutes from November 28th, 2007 M/S/A

1.3.a. Faculty/staff comments concerning those items not on the agenda

Kevin Picciuto – report from matter at College Council. Issue regarding instructional hiring/prioritization list and ‘creation’ of second list once ranking had already been prioritized. Kevin is worried that there is a potential sidestep of the protocol/process. Question regarding categorical funding for the ‘created’ listing of instructional hires, to which Kevin was unsure of the answer to that question. Sharman reported that there is interest in a grant for the FYE, but at this time there is notapproved grant. Kevin asserted that his understanding was that the ‘additional’ list of instructors are needed for the counseling classes/program. Ron Johnson spoke to the decision process that culminated in Instructional Council, which he asserted that the IC made an error when they split the list with new hires/retirements and then the addition of an English position. He asserted while there was an error due to not checking past precedence or the ‘rule book’, IC is dutiful and mindful to make the program review process valid and more meaningful. Ron asserts that perhaps the IC should not be ranking the instructional positions.

Kevin reported on the Board report regarding Tim Garner’s research. He briefly spoke to the survey and the results of the student responses.

Roughly 600 respondents with 29% transferring, 24% attaining their goals before receiving a certificate or degree, and 6% not being able to acquire the classes they needed.

b. Faculty/staff comments concerning those items on the agenda.

None

1.4President’s report – (Steve Natoli) –Cabinet report via email

Michele attended the meeting in place of Steve. Michele generated the Cabinet report and it was forwarded via email.

Steve – February meeting will be a combined meeting with the Senate, Curriculum and the Instructional Council regarding the changes in Title IV. Ron Johnson asserted that it will be a nice way for us to review and discuss changes. Chis Knox requested that it be pod-cast so people who are unable to attend will be able to listen in on the meeting.

Handout – recommendations from security consultant. There where four recommendations identified: 1) mix of post certified and security officer 2) current chief is responsible for both the campus police operations and the POST academy. Position should be split 3) if position is split, the campus police unit report to the VP of Student Services and another manager be assigned to the academy. 4) Bond inclusion recommendations.

1.5Committees:

a. Curriculum Committee report – Joni Jordan *action items

Curriculum – M/S/A.

  1. Facilities Committee report –Steve reported first meeting of Tulare advisory committee happened last Friday. Plans are comprehensive. Facility is well designed. Also, smoking area outside of music building will be moved away from a loading/unloading area. Pavement outside of the administrative building will be repaved. Frank reported that the smoking signs are moved indoors at night, so there is currently no clear designation for the evening students.
  2. Equivalency Policy – Steve Houk. Handout (faculty data). A controversy has arisen in the Nursing division regarding particular instructors being assigned certain classes/labs (clinical competency and who determines the competency of the instructor). Senate is responsible for minimum quals. Therefore, the Nursing senators will comprise a resolution which will determine the competency/guidelines. Janice reported that the Board of Registered Nursing document is ‘law’ in this area, and the resolution will echo the guidelines denoted in the document.
  3. Governance/Professional Matters (Committee A) – Linda Amaral. No report.

e. Bylaws/Election Process (Committee B) – Jesse Wilcoxson. Committee B meeting was cancelled.

  1. Distance Learning/Committees/Professional Ethics (Committee C) – Janice Brown. Handout (resolution on intellectual property). Jeff B. spoke to the resolution. Basically, the property rights remain with the instructor, unless commissioned by the employer. Steve reported that there is an article on the ASACC website regarding law and intellectual property. A discussion ensued regarding academic freedom and public domain rights. *First reading. Will come back after break to be voted upon. It was put forth that perhaps this resolution needs to turn into an actual agreement between the Senate and the college (policy). Steve will share the resolution with Dr. Scroggins and forward his sentiment regarding this issue.

Vote – technology committee Dwayne Goodmen and Kim Kamerian. M/S/A Dave Wheeler – Facility committee M/S/A

  1. COSTA Liaison Committee – Steve Natoli
  2. FEC – Chris Knox. Slight revision to the Sabbatical proposal. Changes - 1) goals 2) evaluation methods. Handout provided. Also, can be acquired from the FEC website. Additionally, two mentors have been acquired as volunteers. There may possibly be two more. To date, mentors will receive a stipend.

Workshop on how to write a sabbatical presented by Robert Urthecho to be held on convocation day. As well, a needs assessment currently being authored by Chris will be completed/presented. 8 sabbatical semesters available. Chris also reported the possibility of ‘mini’sabbaticals is being investigated.

Chris announced that there is a faculty workroom available in the LRC for adjunct use. Approval to offer faculty orientation (standardized orientation). Amy Pritchett will be presenting the orientation for all new faculty.

i. Student Learning Outcome – Carol Enns. No report.

j. Adjunct Faculty report – Brandon Sanderson. No report.

k. DECOS – Deborah Nolan. Forwarded document via email regarding DECOS

committee update. Deborah is currently busy building shells for instructors who are

interested in using/incorporating BB. As well, Deborah is commissioned to create a facultysatisfaction survey. Her contact information will be linked on the COS webpage

relatively soon. John W. reported that COS perhaps “copied” the USC webpage/design and he asserts that we should perhaps take some form of action or investigation. Steve asserted that he would gather information and come back to Senate for action. Ron Johnson reported that there is training available in web design. It is hopeful that there will be an identified personin each division to be to the web creator of that particular division. There is currently noWeb Master at COS.

l. ASB – Student Rep. – Naloor See.

Final semester project – LISTO club (gift delivery). Final class meeting last Tuesday. ASB in Visalia and the Tulare parade last week. Frank is working on an outline that will describe the club advisory position. It is hopeful that this will generate interest.

1.6Unfinished Business

  1. Repeatability resolution – vote. M/S/ Discussion – proposal of amendment (Joni Jordan). Question regarding amendment – seeking clarification. Author desired historical record that this has been a change in policy and desires pat practice (status quo). *Approved
  2. Grant policies – vote. Sharman Wood – it now reads that it goes to Cabinet for approval. M/S Sharman inquired about any potential changes. If this happens, does it come back to Senate to vote upon the changes? Steve believed this to be true. *Approved.

1.7New Business

  1. Diversity Initiative – M. Hester-Reyes. Handout provided. Michele gave a brief breakdown of the current committee work and the there main areas that are working on diversity. Action planned attached (Fall 2007 update). Hiring and training to be given within the scope of the hiring process and law. Mentioned sessions with consultant, Carlos Cortes. Student Equity Comm. is re-writing the Equity plan. Dr. Scroggins put up a student equity webpage himself. Also, faculty and staff diversity Comm., which is writing an EEO plan. There will need to be work with FEC and Curriculum Committee to promote this. Discussion of Awards (Regina Steinbeck Diversity award, etc…). To be put forward in January. Flex days – EEO training.
  2. Budget – forwarded via email. Endorsement to send faculty to the counseling institute. M/S/A.

Steve brought the idea of the faculty involvement survey – inquiring as to whether or not it is a good idea. Valerie – inter - colligate sports coach (volunteer or paid activities?). She would like to recognize other programs that impact the community (e.g. the newspaper). Would like to list division subcommittees. She would also like to add LISTO. John Winterton acquired as to whether or not we already have this info and can we pull from it (the accreditation report). Also, perhaps some historical information (how many times on Senate, etc…).

Meeting adjourned: 6: 02 p.m.